Second Sunday of AdventSecond Sunday of Advent
Year C
Readings: Baruch 5:1-9; Philippians 1:3-6,8; Luke 3:1-6
Proclaiming a Baptism of Repentance

As we have moved into the second Sunday of Advent, we are invited to spend some time examining ourselves and preparing our hearts for the upcoming celebrations of our Saviour’s birth. The Gospel today from Luke tells us of the life of John the Baptist, and how he went about warning people, and calling them to change their lives and be baptised. 

The baptism is a symbol of ‘being changed our ways’. The changing of our ways is the repentance. We are called to repent and reflect: ‘What is that needs to be changed in my life’? Quite often in Advent, as in Lent, we give up certain things, so-as-to fully participate in the Spirit of Advent by depriving ourselves of certain pleasures. It is one way of changing our lives. Change of life can also mean, change of our attitude, change of our behaviour, change of our care for the neighbour, ext.

How can we make it happen in our life time? It is by being open to God’s Grace. Allowing God to do God’s works. Allowing God to work in my life as John the Baptist did in his. We are the messengers of God’s goodness today. To be the messengers, we need God to take birth in our life first. That is, allowing God to guide our day today life. Through God’s help we continue to be generous, kind, loving and forgiving each other. Let us treat everyone with dignity and humanity. Let s look after each other as if they are my own brother sisters. And all this is possible, if we repent and be baptised. 

The question is, haven’t we been baptised already? Yes, we might have been baptised when we were young or as an adult. But now this baptism is not the ritual practice of baptising someone again, rather being mindful that it is the result of our repentance. It is the result of allowing God to work in our life. It is the result of creating a space for God in our life in this Advent Season. 

As we get busy with decorations, sweets, holidays, packing, music and so on and so forth, let us remember to repent and turn around to God and receive the baptism of Repentance. Let us pray for each other that we all do God’s Will and continue to prepare a place in our hearts for him.